Burbank, IL (April 4, 2011) - Cameron Koepke's game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Rams past Argo 8-7 this afternoon in the SSC Red Conference opener.
It certainly wasn't easy for Reavis (4-4; 1-0) as they spotted the Argonauts seven runs over the first two innings and found themselves trailing 7-3. Starting pitcher Garret Rhodes (2-2) settled down after experiencing early control problems and allowed only one hit and no runs from the third inning on.
Offensively, Reavis pounded out 11 hits and put runs on the board in five separate innings. In the bottom of the first inning, both Brandon Hines and Jake Stano had RBI hits. The Rams added two more runs in the second inning to cut the Argo lead to 7-5 when David Beltran and Hector Cirilo tallied back-to-back doubles. Cirilo later scored on a wild pitch. In the third frame, Beltran knocked in Koepke who doubled earlier, and the Rams tied the score in the fourth inning when Mike Falbo doubled and Rob Rabakozi singled him home.
The score remained tied until the bottom of the seventh when Christian Flores singled to left field and his pinch runner Zack Mackowiak moved to second base on Jake Stano's sacrifice bunt. With one out and two strikes on him, Koepke lined a single over the third baseman's head to plate Mackowiak with the game-winner.
"We didn't play our best baseball today," said Coach Erickson, "especially early in the game, but I loved the way we battled today. We never lost confidence and the kids never gave up."
The Rams take on the Argonauts again Tuesday in Summit.
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